Thomas Dadford & Family

[Nicholas Billingham]

I'm trying to find out about the Dadford family of canal engineers,
apparently from Wales, though possibly from Staffordshire. Has anyone got
any info on these people?

Nick Billingham

[Mike Stevens]

Post by Nicholas Billingham
I'm trying to find out about the Dadford family of canal engineers,
apparently from Wales, though possibly from Staffordshire. Has
anyone got any info on these people?

There's quite a bit of information in Edward Paget-Tomlison's
"Illustrated History of Canals & River Navigations". Here are some
edited highlights.

Three (possibly four) members of the family who were canal engineers,
Thomas (sr) and his two sons, Thomas (jr) and John. James Dadford may
have been another brother.



Thomas (sr) - died 1809

Probably originated from Stewponey near Stourbridge.

He started as one of Brindley's many assistants, in which capacity he
worked on the S&W and the Birmingham.

Engineer & surveyor on the Dudley Canal until 1783, and consulted by
them later when they were extending through Dudley tunnel.

1782 - with Thomas(jr) made recommendations for improvements to the
Trent.

1784 - advised on the Coventry's aqueduct over the R.Tame.

1789 - cutting contractor on the Cromford

The latter part of his career was spent in Wales and the Borders, often
working with his two sons. He worked on many canal projects, including
the Neath and the Aberdare, in many of which he was also a shareholder.

Until 1794, with Thomas(jr) and Sheasby, engineer & contractor on the
Glamorganshire until they had a row with the company which was later
resolved in their favour.

His last canal was the Montgomeryshire, where he succeeded John as
engineer.



Thomas (jr) died 1806

Worked both with his father and independently.

1774 - with John Priddy he surveyed the Stroudwater

1776 - became engineer of the Stourbridge. Resigned in 1781.

Surveyor & engineer to the Leominster Canal, for a long time
simultaneously with other projects.

Worked with his father on the Glamorganshire.

1791 appointed engineer of the Neath.

1792 - left the Neath to become engineer of the Monmouthshire.

1793 - worked on a couple of proposed connections from the Brecknock &
Abergavenny which ended up as tram-roads.

1794- 97 Assisting his brother John who was engineer on the
Montgomeryshire.

1795-1800 Engineer (part-time) of the Brecknock & Abergavenny.

1797 - supervised the extension of the Neath to Giant's Grave.

1800 - re-survey of the Aberdare




John - Paget-Tomlinson doesn't give a separate entry for him, but he's
mentioned in the sections about the other two.

In addition to the references quoted above, in 1794 he built a tramroad
from the Brecknock & Abergavenny up the Clydach valley, and also worked
on the Neath and Aberdare canals. In 1797 he went to America.



James, who may or may not have been another brother, was engineer of the
Gloucester & Berkeley from 1797 to 1800.



--
Mike Stevens, narrowboat Felis Catus II
Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
No man is an island. So is Man.

[John Norris]

Post by Mike Stevens

Post by Nicholas Billingham
I'm trying to find out about the Dadford family of canal engineers,
apparently from Wales, though possibly from Staffordshire. Has
anyone got any info on these people?

There's quite a bit of information in Edward Paget-Tomlison's
"Illustrated History of Canals & River Navigations". Here are some
edited highlights.
Three (possibly four) members of the family who were canal engineers,
Thomas (sr) and his two sons, Thomas (jr) and John. James Dadford may
have been another brother.

SNIP

I hope I'll be excused a little bit of nit picking - strictly in the
interests of historical accuracy.

Post by Mike Stevens
Thomas (jr) died 1806

Died 2nd April 1801

Post by Mike Stevens
Worked both with his father and independently.
1774 - with John Priddy he surveyed the Stroudwater

No, this was Thomas Snr.

Post by Mike Stevens
1776 - became engineer of the Stourbridge. Resigned in 1781.

This too was Thomas Snr.

snip

Post by Mike Stevens
1795-1800 Engineer (part-time) of the Brecknock & Abergavenny.

The appointment took effect from 1 Jan 1796. His time increased from 1/4
initially to 3/4 in July 1797. He was in post when he died.

Post by Mike Stevens
1797 - supervised the extension of the Neath to Giant's Grave.
1800 - re-survey of the Aberdare
John - Paget-Tomlinson doesn't give a separate entry for him, but he's
mentioned in the sections about the other two.
In addition to the references quoted above, in 1794 he built a tramroad
from the Brecknock & Abergavenny up the Clydach valley, and also worked
on the Neath and Aberdare canals. In 1797 he went to America.

He went in 1796.

Post by Mike Stevens
James, who may or may not have been another brother, was engineer of the
Gloucester & Berkeley from 1797 to 1800.

Yes, James was a brother.




John Norris

[Nicholas Billingham]

I don't suppose anyone has any idea whether John Dadford did anything of
note in America? I am thinking of Trevithick's adventures in the silver
mines here, a fascinating episode subsequently erased from history by the
Stephenson hagiographers.

Many thanks for your replies.
Nick Billingham

Post by John Norris

Post by Mike Stevens

Post by Nicholas Billingham
I'm trying to find out about the Dadford family of canal engineers,
apparently from Wales, though possibly from Staffordshire. Has
anyone got any info on these people?

There's quite a bit of information in Edward Paget-Tomlison's
"Illustrated History of Canals & River Navigations". Here are some
edited highlights.
Three (possibly four) members of the family who were canal engineers,
Thomas (sr) and his two sons, Thomas (jr) and John. James Dadford may
have been another brother.

SNIP
I hope I'll be excused a little bit of nit picking - strictly in the
interests of historical accuracy.

Post by Mike Stevens
Thomas (jr) died 1806

Died 2nd April 1801

Post by Mike Stevens
Worked both with his father and independently.
1774 - with John Priddy he surveyed the Stroudwater

No, this was Thomas Snr.

Post by Mike Stevens
1776 - became engineer of the Stourbridge. Resigned in 1781.

This too was Thomas Snr.
snip

Post by Mike Stevens
1795-1800 Engineer (part-time) of the Brecknock & Abergavenny.

The appointment took effect from 1 Jan 1796. His time increased from 1/4
initially to 3/4 in July 1797. He was in post when he died.

Post by Mike Stevens
1797 - supervised the extension of the Neath to Giant's Grave.
1800 - re-survey of the Aberdare
John - Paget-Tomlinson doesn't give a separate entry for him, but he's
mentioned in the sections about the other two.
In addition to the references quoted above, in 1794 he built a tramroad
from the Brecknock & Abergavenny up the Clydach valley, and also worked
on the Neath and Aberdare canals. In 1797 he went to America.

He went in 1796.

Post by Mike Stevens
James, who may or may not have been another brother, was engineer of the
Gloucester & Berkeley from 1797 to 1800.

Yes, James was a brother.
John Norris

[John Norris]

Post by Nicholas Billingham
I don't suppose anyone has any idea whether John Dadford did anything of
note in America? I am thinking of Trevithick's adventures in the silver
mines here, a fascinating episode subsequently erased from history by the
Stephenson hagiographers.

I'd love to know. When I was writing an article on the Dadfords for the
ICE's Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers the Institution put out
enquiries in the US about John Dadford but they came back to me! America
does include South as well as North of course and I too have thought about
possible parallels with Trevithick. Surveyor, tramroad engineer and canal
engineer, John had several skills to turn his hand to.

All I know for certain is that John Dadford was dead by the time of his
father's death in 1809. My guess is that he found work on one of the US
canals. Hopefully, with the increasing amount of US burial information
becoming available, his death and burial will one day come to light.

John Norris